gvt2000
New member
THIS. Mathieu's pricetag wasn't that of a 30 year old backup who's "solid" status, as expected, only lasted 18 months.
Barca Transfers and Rumors
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THIS. Mathieu's pricetag wasn't that of a 30 year old backup who's "solid" status, as expected, only lasted 18 months.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Got more out of him for 17m than many got for bigger fees.
Better that than spending big on many failures who clubs lost more money on.
Can list as many of those as you did players the other way.
Kohe321
New member
Mathieu did his job. That goal he scored against Celta Vigo (0-1 header) gave us 3 vital points and was consequently instrumental in our league victory, which became a part of the treble.
His overall contribution was often quite solid when he played, and he did his job as a squad player. I can't understand how he is the focus of discussion now? If one wants to argue misspent money and piss poor transfers done under the supervision of this board, he's not the player to pull forth as an example.
His overall contribution was often quite solid when he played, and he did his job as a squad player. I can't understand how he is the focus of discussion now? If one wants to argue misspent money and piss poor transfers done under the supervision of this board, he's not the player to pull forth as an example.
Jallo
Member
Personally I think losing Neymar is not as bad is you make it sound. It's not like we lost Messi, we lost Neymar's dribbling and chance creation yes. But I think those are Dembélé main strengths right now him and Messi should be able to more than replace and surpass Neymar's impact. Sure the understanding Neymar had developed with Alba, Iniesta, Saurez, and Messi will be missed. But the most important that we gain from losing Neymar is a chance at a renewed emphasis on team play. We no longer have to sacrifice the midfield to the MSN. We can now design a team to get the best out of the midfield. That is the thing that some cules might be overlooking.
Neymar will mean better defense, midfield, and less mindless dribbling.
i_bleed_blaugrana
Senior Member
I'd just say be patient with Dembele. He has plenty of potential and is bringing European experience with him, something Neymar lacked when he first settled here. Neymar wasn't the near total package player he is today. His vision and off the ball movement has a lot to do with our influence on him. I'd expect Dembele to be similar to Neymar's first season here: clearly at the standard required, produces some moments of genius but has his howlers and mental gaffes at times. Especially for players who work off the dribble like they do, it can be hard to know when to pass and when to go for glory in our system, particularly with the expectations our style brings. So particularly if things don't go well this season, I hope the fingers don't automatically go to him. I'm pretty confident he will suceed here with time, the fans and club being patient with him and playing in a position he will suceed in.
Overall, Dembele is only a notch away really from being at Neymar's level and their skill set is very similar, so I don't think Neymar's departure in a sporting sense is a death sentence.
It's our inability to sign a MF better than fucking Paulinho is what will kill us. See, Dembele will do fine; don't worry about the front line, worry about who is going to provide them with service...
Overall, Dembele is only a notch away really from being at Neymar's level and their skill set is very similar, so I don't think Neymar's departure in a sporting sense is a death sentence.
It's our inability to sign a MF better than fucking Paulinho is what will kill us. See, Dembele will do fine; don't worry about the front line, worry about who is going to provide them with service...
gvt2000
New member
Because he is the poster man of the main reason for all our troubles: passing up on great players to sign "squad players" that were never good enough to play for us to begin with. Think how much better our team would be if we had spent nearly 70 million wisely instead of signing 30 year old Mathieu, 29 year old Vermaleen or 29 year old Arda . We're discussing it because it's happened again: we've just spent 40 million on a 29 year old "Squad player" like Paulinho while Real Madrid paid just a bit more for some of La liga's best under 21 in Theo and Ceballos.
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JamDav1982
Senior Member
No he isnt 'the poster man' for that at all.
Mathieu was good enough to be a squad player and proved it.
Mathieu does not have relation to the other players that were more expensive and failed.
For 17m he did his job as a squad player and many teams looking for CBs and other players have lost more than 17m and got less out of them.
gvt2000
New member
How did Mathieu do his job again? Out of the 3 years he stayed in the team, he had 18 months of decent football TOPS. 18 months of decent football for 20m is disastrous planning, specially when the board rules out players like Marquinhos, Thiago Silva and hummels due to them being "too expensive"
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That's more months of decent football than David Villa and many other big name signings we had. Mathieu was our 3rd or 4th cb option and he did his job decently. It was not because of Mathieu that we failed in last season.
mark1nhu
New member
Astonishing how people forget we were horrifying thin in defense players when we signed Mathieu. Back at that time we only had Piqué and Masch as really playable center defenders and no one other than Adriano to replace Alba when injured.
We badly NEEDED a versatile squad player for defense as a SHORT TERM solution. That's why he was signed on such a rush and that's EXACTLY what he gave back to us.
Bringing Mathieu was EASILY one of the most reasonable things this board did, if you actually remember the situation we were at that time.
Mathieu "only staying for 3 years" doesn't change that because that's what we wanted since the beginning: to find a long term solution while he was here (which we did).
We badly NEEDED a versatile squad player for defense as a SHORT TERM solution. That's why he was signed on such a rush and that's EXACTLY what he gave back to us.
Bringing Mathieu was EASILY one of the most reasonable things this board did, if you actually remember the situation we were at that time.
Mathieu "only staying for 3 years" doesn't change that because that's what we wanted since the beginning: to find a long term solution while he was here (which we did).
CanadianCanadian
New member
Marlboro Man was a good transfer, and was an integral part of the treble season
The stories on the Mathieu were worth all his shortcomings at LB alone, which to be honest wasn't even his fault. He was a solid enough CB for majority of games we played and scored when we needed it.
gvt2000
New member
You mean Villa, the player who managed to score close to 50 goals (including one in CL final) despite not playing in his natural position, that villa?
This is the exact reasoning the board uses to justify paying promising-youngster-level money for 3 year old band-aid fixes. Hell, even Real Madrid has learned to avoid older players as solutions, yet we can't seem to get enough of them. Sad day when we try justify paying more money for short term solutions (Arda, Mathieu, Vermaleen) than Real has paid for their entire starting midfield.
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